Apparatus for condensing ammonia.



LLBLOCK, APPARATUS FOR cowomsme AMMONIA.

APPLICATION FILED mac 2 912 Patented Dec; 26,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I gym 6 glivjim/e BY lg v (QM ATTORNEY L. BL0CK. APPARATUS for: couosnsme AMMONIA.

I mucmm: msn 050.2. 1912. 1,210,141 7 I Y 3'SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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Patented Dec. 26, 1916.

4 L. BLOCK. APPARATUS FOR CONDE'NSING AMMONIA.

APPLlCATIbN HLED DEC. 2, 1912.

Patented Dec. 26,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES @154 M $1M ,5

@2 W A7TORIJEY .Form.

LOUIS BLOCK, 0]? MAMARONECK, NEW YORK.-

arrnnarus m comannsme AMMONIA.

Specification of Letters Intent.

Application filed December 2. 1912. Serial Ito. 734,650.

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, LOUIS BLOCK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mamaroneck, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, engineer, doing business in the borough of -Man attan, in the city, county, and State of w York, have inrented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for" Condensing Ammonia to Reduce It from the Gaseous to the Liquid I will describe it as receiving the gaseous ammonia in the usual condition at'which it is received in this art, at a high temperature and at a pressure of say, twelve atmospheres.

I employ coils in the ordinary form, sometimes called trombones and cool them as.

usual by a descending current of cold water on their exteriorsexcept that I introduce the gas substantially at the bottom, and retain the liquefied ammonia mingled with the uncondensed gas in a gradually diminishing ratio as both together move rapidly upward. r

There is an econonucal means of transferring heat known as counter-current heat exchanging. my apparatus involves this. There is an advantage in ultimately receiving the condensed ammonia for re frigerating and most other uses in the arts not only liquid, but also cold. My invention involves this,

My apparatus attains the heat exchanging and thus cools the gas with less pipe surface and less water by reason of the hot gas entering at the bottom and giving up its superheat to the lowest pipes which the cooling water is just about to leave, and all the way up the rapidly cooling. gas finds itself more and more cool by being under the influen'ce of water'always a little cooler. Y

My apparatus delivers the liquid am- 7 monia-coole'r finally than usual by-reason of its leaving by an upper pipe which is bathed in the latest received water. And

v 5 the" heat by such medium to the iron and thus to the cold water outside. I esteem these important features of the apparatus.

In the working of my invention the ammonia enters the coils in the form of hot gas 'near the bottom. Its velocity being slowed down the momentum affords the requls te l1ftmg power urgingjthe mixture ap the-slight steps. In rising, it parts first with its superheat, the heat which'it may chance to have above that required to. main- Patented Dec, 26,1916.

ta'in its vaporous condition, and afterward with the latent heat which has before main tamed its vaporous condition, which we may continue to call gaseous.

In some condensers DOWJISGClIlIl the arts, the hot gas enters the lowest pipebut it is only for the purpose of removing the superheat, and the condenser pipe is immediately extended upward carrying it to near the top, after which as in ordinary condensers, the

' gas descends through the zig zag coil and the liquefied gas is discharged near the bottom. In some modifications the gas enters the lowestpipe and is causedto travel IlP-' .ward. In such however, the pipes have beenprovided with liquid drains so that the liquid ammonia which forms by condensation is drained oif as soon as it forms.

I have disc vered that it is practicable to cause the ga eou's ammonia and the liquid ammonia which is produced by its condensation to mix together, and byhaving the ascent sufficiently gradual to cause the mixture to move upward by moment-um in the whole of the several pipes and return bends, the proportion of the dense liquid being small in the bottom pipe and growing larger as the mixture rises, until all is liquid, all is condensed 3111111011121, and is carried away as such from the upper portion of the coil, cooled at last to near the temperature of the cooling water. My apparatus utilizes vthis discovery and adds some further fea- 'tures of importance.

The invention insuresa wet condition of the interior surfaces of all the pipes and return bends and thereby promotes the active transfer of caloric from the contents into the metal and also gives a great increase to the area of the condensing surface in a form which is distributed throughout .the whole space in the interiors of the pipes and return bends by using the-liquid ammonia thus developed to condense succeeding installments of gaseous ammonia.

The gas rises in globules. or bubbles, constantly growing smaller.- The previously liquid fills the spacesand applies against the exterlor ofpractically every globule of 'condensed ammonia in its form of a dense 1G dense liquid ammonia.

turn circulates actively against the lnner my apparatus.

the gas, and the interiors of the pipes and return bends. The previously condensed am- .monia serves as a heat conveying medium between the bubbles of gas and the inner 5 surfaces of the metal. The act of condensation is proceeding over the whole of the great surface presented by these small -globules of gas. The heat moves outward from i the whole surface of all the bubbles into the The liquid in its surface of the inclosing metal, the transfer this time being from a liquid to a metal and the heat moves out with greater efficiency from the surface presented. The heat leaves,

the gas and goes into the liquefied ammonia, making part of the latter gaseous, this travels rapidly forward and upward in contact with the inclosing cool metal and giv- 2 ing up its heat thereto, which escapes through the metal to be carried away by the water outside. Meanwhile, the gaseous ammonia enters the next pipe above. attacking another unit of liquefied ammoni.. and similarly exhanging conditions in that more advanced stage, and thus repeating. It will'be observed that the exteriors of the metal parts, the coils and the return bends are cooled by the descending colder water in the same manner as has long been practised n other gas condensers, except that the work is so manipulated that the coldest water strikes first on the coldest pipes afterward on pipes below, which are slightly warmer, and so on, giving the advantages of the much '-"heat to other liquid through metal) five times at fast as gaseous ammonia.

water to water the transfer of heat for each square foot of surface and each degree Fahr. difference of temperature is 300 B. T. U.

p'e'r'hour, while with gas to water as in ordinary ammonia condensers the transfer is We cannot only'60 B. T.v U. per hour. know all the action under different conditions, but it is largely dependent upon'how fast the heat of the liquid ammonia can.

after it has entered the iron, be transferred through the metal to the water flowing over it. Neglecting the resistance to the fiow of heat through the thin metal which is obviously the same in each. the transfer of 3 heat from the ammonia bubbles to the liquid ammonia surrounding them is 60 B. T. I1, and the transfer of heat from the dense liquid to the metal inclosing it and thence to the water outside, liquid to liquid, has by 55 published experiments in other arts been creased activity of the transfer of heat by- With pears that thetwo transfers of heat in my apparatus are each made at a rate occupying only about of the time which is required by the old practice for its single transfer. Thus reckoned mathematically the efficiency of mine is greater than the ordinary in phe'ratio of 5 to 1. It is not important that these figures be exactly cor- ,l rect, I give them as the nearest now available. I

The following is a description of what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention on a large scale suitable for re storing-the ammonia used in refrigerating air, or brine, or for ice-making purposes.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 1s a perspective view of the maln parts. Fig. 2 1s a s1de elevation of the same form with water supply properly added, and

Fig. 3 isa diagrammatic side view giving the most completely developed form of the main portion-of the apparatus employed. Fig. at is on a much larger scale. It is a longitudinal section of a portion of two of the horizontal condenser pipes and the connecting return bend.

Similarletters and marks of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures. I show iron pipes, preferably galvanized "pipes, connected together as usual, in sections with return bends. I show four sections each sixteen pipes high to obtain sufiipipes in each tier are united into what is termed sometimes a zig zag coil or trombone COll. As shown four C01lS are mounted side by s1de at a convenient distance apart.

. In these the condensing of the gaseous ammonia and also the preliminary cooling of it, and the subsequent further cooling of the liquefied ammonia, is effected in one continuous series, rising from the pipe A at the bottom to the pipe A to the top. from which latter level the ammonia is delivered in a liquefied and cold condition.

B is 'a horizontal transverse pipe or header which receives the gaseous ammonia through a vertical pipe B and anintermediate check valve C and distributes it to the several coils through the means of descend ing pipes B, ete., one for each coil, controlled by cocks or valves B and joined to found to be 1300 T. U. per hour. It apthe zig zag coils with proper care to main tain tight joints and allow for repairs as ill be understood.

D are horizontal pipes connecting the uppermost pipe in each of the several coils A with the header D. The header takes away the condensed ammonia, receiving it is working.

through the branches D as shown. D are stop valves or cocks in these branch pipes. They are always open when the condenser There is a separate trough or slotted pipe for distributing condensing water over each of the coils, with a separate supply for each,- indicated in Fig. 2, where M is the supply pipe and X the trough for each.

The gaseous ammonia flows inward continuously past the check valve G into the header pipe B and down through the several pipes B to near the base of each coil. It

flows u )ward by a zi za course throu h t C C O the condenser .by moving alterna ely to the rightand left through the several level pipes A. A}, etc., and outward through the several U-shaped return bends connecting them, till it is nearthe top. becoming condensed and giving its heat ultimately to the shower of cold water descending on the exterior from pipe to pipe. All the contents Of'each pipe is an agitated mixture of liquefied. and

gaseous ammonia and all is moving upward through the several return bends and through the level pipes which connect them.

' An active mixing of the gaseous ammonia with the liquefied is useful, and thearrangement shown attains that. It also attains more. I-provide each of the several return bends with a transverse ridge a which in my experiments has been cast integral with the bend as shown clearly in Fig. 4. This serves as a dam holding in each of the pipes A, A etc.. about a full of the denser mixture. The whole in each pipe has an upward trend.

The arrangement is certain to keep 'al parts of the interiors of all of each pair of pipes A A et'c., down nearly to the bottom, thoroughly wet with liquid ammonia. It is also intended to keep all the upper portions of the'interior spaces filled with an actively circulating mixture. and to also keep the ex treme lower part of each pipe and bend the Y valve B. It is sometimes required to drain the ammonia entirely from the coils, To

attain this I provide the connecting pipes D with valves D one for each, connecting low points in the coils A with the drainall the functions of the, header D. A pipe D leads from the pipe D and from its position is certain to be always supplied with liquefied ammonia from above. I provide a valve D on such pipe, which connects the drain-header D with the pipe- D, at will. Under some conditions I -work with that valve open. Valve D in pipe connecting drain-header D with discharge pipe D is then kept tightly shut. By opening valve D the liquefied ammonia from'above, descending through the pipe D v keeps the drain-header filled with liquid ammonia. By opening either one or allof'the valves D to a small extent. the liquefied ammonia will ascend through each and mingle with the gaseous ammonia, which is being introduced. The effect is to supply some liquefied ammonia, when it is judged expedient, at an early stage in the" movement of the gas through either or all the coils of the conamnioma' through the introduction passage which is useful in addition to the check valve C or may if required, serve alone. This construction attains the end both' of a trap alone or of a trap with the addition of a check valve to prevent any accidental backward movementof the liquefied ammonia when the condenseris idle. The checkvalve C tends to make a positive holdlng means, but

when in order torelieve the incoming gas from the slight resistance always due to the weight ofa checkvalve, or when for any reason it is desired to operate the condenser without such valve being efl'ectiveQthe end y be attained, as above suggested. by constructing the bypass pipe larger and setting the bypass valve B open. Then the horizontal pipe B and its connections including the upright pipe B and the corresponding descending pipes B, serve as a trap and attain the important end of preventingany back flow of the ammonia under any pressure.

usually attained in practice. I provide also a trap for the header D which carries the liquefied ammonia away to prevent any blowing through of uncond ensed gas; The

pressure of the gas in the trap is he same as the pressure 1n the upper pipe :4 the condenser, the passage by which the liquefiedf ammonia leaves,., and the same. as the. pres, sure in the liquid receiver, located on a lower level,'to which it is delivered, and since the pipe D of the trap leads first downand then up, and is connected bybianch E controlled by the cock E with equalizing header. E eV discharge of gaseous ammonia is prevented while the easy discharge of liquid. ammonia. is assured. v

A pipe it, connects the top of the liquid receiver with the equalizing header E. lt

equalizes the pressure in the liquid receiver and the upper part ofthe condenser, and insures a free flow of liquid ammonia from thelatter to the receiver. v

P is a receiver or storage tank supplied with connecting pipes and controlling cocks standing in the relation shown ready to sup-. ply more ammonia or store some whenever,

required. It should be of sufiicient capacity to receive and temporarily store any excess andsupply any temporary deficiency. It is provided with a gage-glass which shows plainly how much liquid ammonia there 1s in the receiver at all times.

The pipe 71 is a pump-out'pipe, it connects pipe h with the suction side of the refrigerating machine and by opening valve h after having closed valve (E in the branches E of all the condensers not to be pumped out, and closing valves E D'?, D and k leaving valve E on any condenser coil which is required to be pumped out,

open, such coil for purpose of repair or for any other reason, can be emptied of ammonia. I G is the ordinary air drum into which any air on noncondensable gases, which gather in the apparatus may rise through the cock 7, and at long intervals may be blown out through thecock f In Fig. 3 two features are developed,

'neitherof whichhas been previously described. In this figure I showthat the discharge of the liquid may be at apoint lower than the uppermost pipe of the con denser and that the entrance for the gas may be at a point above the lowermost pipe of greater than is possible in the construction shown in Fig. l. or in any other similar device. where uncondensed gas may and most likely is still intermingled with the liquid as both together are traveling upward. l have found that where a multiplicity of 1 inmate are connected to a singleheader the velocity of gas due to its pressure and to the lower temperature and consequent lower pressure within the condenser will, when the units are: operating l1l0W tl1elI capacity, cause theunits nearestlttoi the point of entranceintothe header toreceive not an equal proportion of the 'gas, butla greater quantity,

and as aconsequencethereqf certain of the units will do but little or network. I might provide against this by t'hriittling the entrance into each unit by means of a. valve B1 or by other means. But this would require an adjustment of the valves whenever a change occurred in the amount of work to be done by the condenser. I have arranged an automatically operating means for causing an even distribution of the hot gas in all of the units. Themeans that I have employed is to cause the gas to enter at a point above the lowermost pipe of the condenser. It will then be forced to travel downward in parallel flow with the water, through a small number of pipes and will not therefore be immediately subjected to the influence of the lower pressure within the condenser which as before described will increase its velocity. The hot gas will be forced by the pressure to which it is subjected to pass downward through pipes thatare subject to the influence of the warmest water. Here it parts with its super-heat, but I do not intend nor do I believe that condensation will take place in these pipes. The gas is then passed upward to the lowermost pipes of the condensing zone and although an increased velocity may take place by the desire of the gas to fill the unoccupied space in the con- (lensing zone and due to the fact that it now travels in counter current to the cooling water, this increased velocity will not affect the gas passing downward in the lowermost pipes to any material extent, as the friction alone within the pipes will materially decrease the possible velocity and thus a proportionate even distibution of gas in a number of units is accomplished. I consider both of these features important as they materially add to the efficiency of my construction. I

lll0dificat2'0ns.l art or parts may be omitted, I do not limit myself to the exact form of the return bend shown inv Fig. 4:. I

can use a smaller dam and a less distorted *form of the castings constituting the return bend. I can work with the other portions of the invention and the return bends now in the market, but I prefer the one shown with the dam for the reason among others that it will hold liquid ammonia in the upper pipes when the condenser is idle, and thus have it ready for instantaneous operation all the serves forliquid cooling alone after the c011 densing is completed. Good results may be obtained by introducing the gasabove the lower pipe and discharging it in liquefied condition either at the top of the coil or near the top as showninFig. 8.

' I do not limit myself to the exact form of the trap shown, to prevent'the discharge of uncondensed gas, I claim any {device con nected to the deliver y side of the condenser which will arrest the uncondensed portion of bottom and the final liquid discharge outlet" above the highest condenser pipe and a trap connected at the top for preventing the discharge of unliquefied gas and for maintaining liquid in the condenser, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A gas condenser comprising a plurality of superimposed horizontallyv arranged pipes having the gas inlet approximately at the bottom-and the final liquid discharge outlet above the highest condenser pipe and atrap connected at the top for preventing the discharge of unliquefied gas and for maintaining liquid in the condenser and means for preventing back flow of said liquid ammonia out of the inlet passage as 'and for the purposeset forth.

- q 3. A gas condenser comprising a trombone coil having the gas inlet substantially at the bottom and the liquid outlet substantially at the top with means for preventing the. discharge forward of unliquefiedgas,

and a valved drain at the bottom of the condenser to empty the same of'liquid when re- .quired, in combination with means for show- 'ering water over the condenser.

4. In ammonia condensers, trombone coils of pipe, means for introducing the gas near the bottom thereof, means for taking theliquid away near the top, a header connected wlth the several coils, a trap on the pipe which leads to theliquid away, and means for preventing siphoning of the liquid through, the trap, in combination with means for showering water over the coils;

5. In an ammonia condenser, trombone coils of pipes and means for bringing the drum G at a higher level and a connecting gas froma higher level to the lowest pipes thereof, in combination with means by the passage for purging-the condenser of noncondensable gases, a check valve arranged for positively preventing any return flow, a pipe arranged for taking away the condensed and cooled ammonia at a high point, and a. trap to prevent accidental forward flow of uncondensed gas and 'means. for showering water over the coils.

6. A gas condenser comprising a plurality of superimposed horizontally arranged pipes as an ordinary-trombone coil, with connections as shown so that the gas-enters substantiallyat the bottom pipeand the liquid produced leaves at a high point'and means for preventing back fiowinto the introductory 7. A gas condenser comprising a trombone coil with connections to trap the liquid produced against flowing backward into the introductory connection, and to' trap any remaining uncondensed gas against forward 'flow, in combination with a liquid cooler above the condenser and connected with the same and means for showering water overthe-liquid cooler and condenser.

8. Ina condenser havlng .trombone coils with means for moving the contents upward therein, means for flowing water down the outer surfaces, and dams within the passages of said coils adapted to obstruct the flow of liquid along the bottom of the several plpes and to hold them always partially filled with liquefied ammonia.

4 9. In a condenser having trombone coils with means for moving the contents upward therein, means for flowing water down the.

outer surfaces, and dams within the return bends of said coils adapted to obstruct the flow of liquid along the bottom of the several pipes and to hold them always partially filled with liquefied ammonia, a raised top over each dam so as to keep the passage substantially uniform in cross section, witheach dam made integral with the corresponding return bend and the bends formed with means for joining tightly to the corresponding pipes as herein specified.

10. In a condenser having substantially horizontal pipes and return bends and means for showering water down their exteriors and means for moving their contents in another direction, the combination therewith of dams within said pipes for retarding the internal flow of the liquid and mingling the gaseous ammonia with the liquefied by compelling the latter to flow over such dams, and the several pipes enlarged by raising the tops of each where it extends past a dam.

' 11. In gas condensers having a plurality of pipes a pipe D and valve D connecting the liquefied gas discharge with the hot gas inwith the succeeding installments, in combi-, natlon with a valve D arranged to perform the alternate functions of controlling the flow of liquid into a pipe at will, or when required, draining the condenser- 12. In ammonia condensers means forintroducing gas near the bottom thereof,

means for causing said gas to pass down-- .ward,then upward therein and for dischargliquid to flow upward and then downward ing the liquefiedgas at the top. to be discharged below the top of said con-v 13. A gas condenser'having means for denser. discharging the liquefied gas at the top in Signed at New York city, in the county 15 .icombinat'ion with a liquid cooler mounted and State of New York, this twenty-third oyer said condenser and connected to the upday of November A.- D. 1912.

per p pe thereof. I LOUIS BLOCK H 14. In ammoma condensers means for 1ntroducinggas near the bottom thereof, means \Vitnesses: 10 for causing said gas to pass downward, then A. A. BUTTERMAN, upward therein and means for causing the J. NEWBECKER. 

